International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 4, No. 14; December 2014 Diplomatic Relations between Spain and Denmark (1759-1761) Claudia Pingaro, PhD University of Salerno Department of Political Science, Social and Communication Italy Abstract The paper intends to focus on the diplomatic correspondence between the Spanish Minister Plenipotentiary Juan Domingo Pignatelli and the Minister Bernardo Tanucci (1759-1761). Pignatelli, during his permanence in Copenaghen at the Frederick V of Denmark’s Court, conversed with Tanuccion developments of European diplomatic relationships, the role of the Danish government during the Seven Years War (1756-1763), the movements of various armies, and the position of the European states at that time Keywords: eighteenth century, Europe, power of balance, diplomacy, Denmark, Juan Domingo Pignatelli, Bernardo Tanucci, Spain. Introduction At the end of the 17th century in the system of European States, the space for a policy of hegemony was greatly reduced. The political landscape of Europe was made up of monarchies, large and medium pluralistic and variously balanced powers. Diplomacy’s role as an exclusive channel for peace and war negotiations died down: during the 18th century, it became a specific part of every European State’s policy and it started the constitution of an independent sector in public administration (Galasso, 2001). “Equilibrium” is the principle that dominated relationships between European States during reason’s century. David Hume was the most important theorist of equilibrium between powers as stability factor between States: he considered war as the extrema ratio to contain claims of hegemony of a State over the others. In addition to Hume, other theorists underlined the importance of diplomatic relations between States (for example: Fenélon, Voltaire, Millot, Emmerich de Vattel): for them, Europe of their time was the expression of an assembly of independent States tied to each other by the common achievement of order and liberty. Scale of Authority would protect absence of power abusing of a State over the others. European balance was called into question by insurrections, wars, usurpations and murders perpetrated into Old Country (Saint Pierre, 1713). The European States were living in constant anxiety and fear fostered by the frequent wicked recourse to conflicts (Guerci, 1988). The result of three Succession Wars (Spanish, 1702-1714; Polish, 1733-1738; Austrian, 1740-1748) confirmed the crown’s rights as the foundation of European public law and the principle of equilibrium as the basic rule of European diplomacy.Equilibrium diplomacywent into crisis after Aquisgrana’s pacification (1748), which called a halt to the Austrian Succession War. From that moment, the European States decided their own targets following a continental or overseas countries’ policy. The spheres of influences already went beyond European Continent’s lines; North America and India represented new areas of expansion. The early 1750’s was characterized by (in addition to the Franco-British rivalry of the seas) feverish diplomatic activity that led up to the “overthrow” of the traditional alliances: Frederic II of Prussia was “enticed” from both London and Paris, George II of England mediated with Frederic II obligating Louis XV of France to ally himself with Maria Teresa of Austria. This was the international profile at the eruption of the Seven Years War (1756-1763). While Europe’s part of the war revolved around resolving old grudges on hegemonies long past, oceanic conflict was dealing with balances of European empires in the world. 80 © Center for Promoting Ideas, USA www.ijhssnet.com France and England fought in two theatres very distant from each other and from Europe: India and America. It was essentially a mercantilist war to obtain parts of oceanic traffic: an almost-world war for the control of the largest importation flux areas; sugar, American coffee, tea, silk, and inexpensive Indian cotton (Viola, 2004). That war can be considered the first real “world” war, taking into consideration the involved states, the field of battle on which it occurred, and the consequences it generated on international political assets. Frederic II of Prussia confirmed his military abilities and, in spite of the outcome of battles, only the death of Tsarina Elizabeth and the accession of Tsar Peter III of Russia (early 1762) allowed to Prussia to obtain profits from peace of Hubertusburg, who in 1763 acknowledged the status quo ante. In the same year, the pacification between England and France led up to the defeat of the French Colonial Empire. The French colonies in both India (except Pondichéry and Mahé) and North America changed to English hands. England also acquired Florida from Spain, compensating the Spanish with Louisiana in the west. Martinique and Guadeloupe were returned to France from England. The Continental asset was confirmed by war’s result, but global balance was severely altered compared to the balance at the beginning of the 18th century: this situation just confirmed the supremacy of England in the world. The greatest colonial power, for territorial extension, remained the Spanish. The new de Bourbon dynasty regained strength and credibility in Europe by establishing its rulers on thrones of Naples and Parma. This research is founded on the analysis of diplomatic documents housed at the State Archive of Naples (Foreign Office). These documents regard the correspondence of Juan Domingo Pignatelli, Spanish extraordinary emissary of Ferdinand VI, and later of Charles III at Denmark Court. These diplomatic missives were sent to the Neapolitan minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernardo Tanucci. The examined documentation covers a period of about two years (1759 to 1761) and contains many accurate and meticulous facts concerning the Seven Years War and the court’s lifetime. 1.Juan Domingo Pignatelli in Denmark between 1759 and 1761 The diplomatic correspondence between Prince Juan Domingo Pignatelli and Tanucci was sent by privileged observatory, Frederic V of Denmark (1746-1766). Denmark’s neutrality kept the country from the cruel conflict fought in the rest of the world. Danish policy was inspired by reforms wanted by Frederic to prevent another dramatic war. Danish neutralism policy was the result of strategic choices wanted by most influential and closest to the king: Johann Hartwig Ernst Bernstorff of Hannover (from 1751 Minister of Foreign Affairs) and Adam Gottlob Moltke of Bregentved (Court Marshal). The commercial relationship between Danish Cour and Charles de Bourbon was ruled by the Trattatoperpetuo di Commercio, e Navigazione (Madrid, 1748). The contacts to close the pact began in 1740 – during the reign of Christian VI (1730 – 1756) – on the initiative of Danish government. The Trattatowas inspired by theories of new-mercantilism. It was made up of forty Articoliand it regulated accounts and navigation rules between the subjects of two Crowns (reciprocal respect, friendship obligations and benefits in economical exchanges). We can read in the Articolo II : traVassalli, Abitanti, e SudditidelleLoroMaestà vi saràliberocommerciotanto per terra, quanto per mare […] di manierache i Sudditi di SuaMaestàSicilianapossanoandare e trafficarenegliStati di S. M. Danese[…] e cosìreciprocamente i Sudditi di S. M. Danesepossonoandare a trafficare ne’ Regni di Napoli, e di Sicilia, come pure ne’ Presidj di Toscana. The signing of the Trattato was inspired by cultural currents of the time; the new mercantile theories used trade and economic growth to give affirmation to the power of the States. In the Kingdom of Naples (an independent entity under de Bourbon rule from 1734) Charles de Bourbon stimulated the debate on reformation and on the well-known models of European development by Southern intellectuals to consider a progressive policy in the South. Many issues relating to Neapolitan diplomatic relations were clarified in a valuable source, the Epistolario of Bernardo Tanucci. Appointed as Prime Minister of Naples at the time of the departure of Charles de Bourbon to Madrid, Tanucci’s Epistolario contains confidential diplomatic correspondence to Neapolitan representatives abroad. In particular it contains correspondence to Charles de Bourbon, who continued to have a strong decision- making presence on important policies of the Kingdom of Naples while he was abroad. 81 International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 4, No. 14; December 2014 Charles of Bourbon ascended to the throne under the name Charles III of Spain following the death of his half- brother Ferdinand VI. He confirmed a diplomatic role to Juan Domingo Pignatelli, who became the representative of Spain at the Danish court. On October 20th of that year, Pignatelli made it known that he would mail his correspondence to Tanucci: quedoenterado de quees la voluntad del Rey […]que no haviendo en esta Capital Ministroalguno del rey de las dos Sicilias, me corresponda con el Secretario de Estado de Napoles, como lo hago con el de mi corte, dandotodaslasnoticiasquemerecenalgunaatencion, o quepuedeninteresar el servicio de ambasMagestades (State Archives of Naples, Foreign Office).He sent news from Vienna of militarymovements in Central Europe: losRussosse havianretirado a Fraustadtfrontera de Silesia y Polonia y queelrey de Prussia haviendodexadosu Exercitoparaobservarlos, se haviaido de su Persona al Exercito del Principe Henrique, que se hallava a Strehla quasi en friente del MariscalDaun, pues no distavanlosdosExercitos